LEMANA – Selected high schools within the Soutpansberg Circuit participated during the annual Life Skills and HIV and Aids programme held at the Lemana Multi-Purpose Centre on August 13.

Dzilani Mavhungu, a learner from Nngweni Secondary School, said that through life skills orientation “I am no longer afraid of this incurable disease, because I know how to prevent it. I am abstaining until the right time and I will be faithful to the person God would give me.” She said that the programme is beneficial to learners because it enables them to abstain from sexual activities and survive peer pressure.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation fighting HIV/Aids, the Limpopo Rural Women, Mrs Joanne Hoorzuk warned the youth that “you cannot have sex at your age because your bodies are still underdeveloped for sex and giving birth.” Hoorzuk added that, if people don’t take Aids seriously, the repercussions could be serious for them.

Tsumbedzo Sirunwa, a pupil at Kutama High, outlined that it is vital for future leaders to condomise rather than to compromise if they are unable to abstain. “Those living with the virus are crying that they are no longer belonging to this world, so it is our challenge, both as teachers and learners, to restore hope unto those people,” she said.

The programme co-ordinator, Ms Nelly Tlakula, said that all people have the responsibility to contribute towards achieving the goal of winning the HIV/Aids battle and save the children. “Maybe it is too late to save us (parents), but I believe this is the right time to make sure that our learners are saved and properly taken care of. The department of education has a Life Skills and HIV/Aids programme in place for all grades. This year we will train high school master trainers and Life Skills high school educators, while selected learners will be trained to spearhead peer education,” she said.

Tlakula said that the main aim of the programme is to encourage learners to abstain from sexual ac-tivities, drug and alcohol abuse, to delay the onset of sexual activities, to empower learners with skills to deal with the difficult situation and find solutions therefore, to cope with peer pressure, as well as to reinstate the moral fibre. Since 1997, selected teachers have been trained in life skills, sexuality and HIV and Aids education.

On behalf of the mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Ms Florence Rumani warned learners not to become HIV candidates by involving their lives on risky behaviours.

The schools that participated in the programme are Denga Ramabulana, Oazias Davhana, Nngweni, Mphephu, Kutama High and Ridgeway College, but the overall winner was Dzilani Mavhungu from Ngweni and Tsumbedzo Sirunwa from Kutama on 2nd position.